Sub: Tenth meeting of the Standing Committee of National Board for Wild Life

held on 19th February at Paryavaran Bhavan, New Delhi

We the non-official members of the Standing Committee record the following:

A.We participated and approved the following:

(i)Item no. 1: Confirmation of the minutes of the previous meetings.

(ii)Item no. 2: Action taken report

(iii)Item no. 3 re Delisting of Edible Nest of Swiftlets from Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the decision taken by the Standing Committee because the proposal is resubmitted.

B.We informed the Chairman that all the non-official members of the National Board for Wild Life had addressed a letter to the Hon’ble Prime Minister dated 18th February expressing our concerns regarding its functioning. A copy of the letter was given to the I.G. Forests and Dy. I.G. Forests. We request that the said letter be taken on record and that we shall continue to participate in the proceedings of the Standing Committee of 19th February, 2008, but would not be able to approve the agenda items for denotification.

The Chairman stated that the letter could not be taken on record as it was addressed to the Hon’ble Prime Minister. The non-official members stated that in that event our handing over of the letter and the Chairman’s decision must be recorded in the minutes of the proceedings of the Standing Committee meeting.

The Chairman desired to meet the non official members of the Standing Committee in his chamber after the meeting ended. The non official members agreed.

C.Item no. 3 - (2) Rationalization of boundaries of National Parks and Sanctuaries.

(i)Item 3.2.1: The non official members did not object to the decision of the Standing Committee as it was decided to ask the Himachal Pradesh Government to resubmit the proposal in its entirety for the whole state.

(ii)Item no. 3.2.2: Fambonglhu, Sanctuary Sikkim. The non official members did not object to the decision of the Standing Committee as there was already a site inspection report in place.

(iii)Balaram-Ambaji Sanctuary, Gujarat. The non-official members did not object to the decision of the Standing Committee as there was already a site inspection report in place.

D. Interlocutory applications before the Hon’ble Supreme Court and the Central Empowered Committee.

(i)Item no. 3.3 – (1) Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary.

3.3(3) Kedarnath Sanctuary.

3.3(4) I.A. NO. 103 in Writ Petition (civil) Number 337/95.

3.3(5) Radhanagri Sanctuary

3.3(6) Gangau Sanctuary

3.3(7) Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary.

In all the above mentioned cases the Standing Committee decided to ask for information on the prescribed format and resubmit the proposal. The non-official members did not object.

(ii)Item nos.3.3 – (8) Majarthal Wild Life Sanctuary.

3.3 (9) Grizzled Squirrel Sanctuary.

3.3(11) Phulwari Ki Nal Sanctuary.

3.3(12) Ranthambhore National Park

3.3(13) Desert National Park

3.3(15) Nagarjunsagar Srisailem Tiger Reserve

3.3(16) Rajiv Gandhi Tiger Reserve (Nagarjunsagar)

3.3(17) Pulicat Bird Sanctuary

3.3(18) Gandhi Sagar Sanctuary

3.3(19) Katarniaghat Sanctuary

3.3(20) Sultanpur National Park.

In all the above mentioned cases, the non-official members did not approve the proposals put to the Standing Committee.

(iii)Item No. 3.3 –

3.3(2) Translocation of lions from the Gir to Kuno Palpur.

The non-official members agreed with the Standing Committee’s decision that translocation of a few lions must take place as it had also been discussed in the P.M.’s meeting and in the larger interest of the survival of the sub-species.

3.3(10) National Chambal Ghariyal Sanctuary – The non-official members agreed with the decision of the Standing Committee to reject the proposal.

3.3(14) Desert National Park – The non-official members of the Standing Committee agreed with the decision of the Standing Committee to reject the proposal.

3.3(21) Jawahar Tunnel Conservation Reserve – The non-official members agreed with the Standing Committee’s decision to seek a legal opinion.

3.3(22) Hastinapur Wildlife Sanctuary – Since this case has been cleared by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the non-official members agreed with the standing Committee’s decision.

E.Additional Agenda: Item no.

4(1) Pulicat Sanctuary- The non-official members agreed with the Standing Committee’s decision to have the proposal resubmitted by Andhra Pradesh.

4(2-A) & 4(2-B) National Chambal Sanctuary – The non-official members did not approve the proposal sent by Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan

This is to request you to kindly ensure that the minutes of the meeting reflect the above facts accurately.